Means for preserving grain in storage



- Jan. 7, 1936. J. H. DAVIS MEANS FOR PRESERVING GRAIN IN STORAGEOriginal Filed Jan. 12, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 7, 1936. J. H. DAVISI 2,027,268

' MEANS FOR PRESBRVING GRAIN IN STORAGE Original Filed Jan... 12, 1933'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jesse A. Dov/ls Jan. 7, 1936. J. H. DAVlS 2,027,268MEANS FOR PRESERVING GRAIN IN STORAGE Or iginal Filed Jan. 12, 1933 v 7Sheets-Sheet 3 km gwmmtoo Jessq fl Dav/1s after we 1,

Jan. 7, 1936. J. H. DAVIS 2,027,263

- MEANS FOR PRESERVING GRAIN IN S TORAGE Original Filed Jan. 12, 1953 7Sheets-Sheet 4 u will/ mung 15 Jesse H 000/;

Jan. 7, 1936.

J. H. DAVIS MEANS FOR PRESERVING GRAIN IN STORAGE Original Filed Jan.12, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 m Jesse HD0105 Jan. 7, 1936. J H, D VIS2,027,268

MEANS FOR PRESERVING GRAIN IN STORAGE- Ofiginal Filed Jan. 12,.1935 7Sheets-Sfieet 6 gig/4.

@lL M Jan. 7, 1936. J. H. DAVIS 2,027,263

MEANS FOR PRESERVING GRAIN IN STORAGE Original'Filed Jan. 12, 1933 7Sheets-Sheet 7 v gmfltw de'sse 5. 3011/15.

meme as {1, 1 3;

DRAG

Jesse 11. Davis, Baltimore, Md.

Original application January 12, 1933, Serial No.

651,434. Divided and this application June 29, Y

1933, Serial No. 678,285

16 Claims. (01. 93-55) This invention relates to a method of and meansfor preserving grain in storage, such as grain stored in bins inelevators and other storage houses, and has particular reference to thetreatment'of grain by aeration so as to maintain it in a properly cooland suitably dry state to protect it from deterioration or injury due tothe presence of undue heat or moisture, or fromthe ravages of insects,as well as,to obviate the necessity of the running or handling of thegrain for these purposes and thereby prevent or materially reduce lossesdue to insect depredations and those bulk or weight losses in the graindue to its physical travel and turning over movements insuch method oftreatment. The invention further has particular reference to thetreatment of stored wheat and other grain in such manner as to greatlyreduce the cost of maintaining the same in good condition.

It is generally agreed by physiologists that energy for manyphysiological processes and reactions is released in living cells in anexothermic reaction or successions of reactions known collectively asrespiration. This is a quotation from the September, 1921, issueTechnical Bulletin No. 3 issued by University of Minnesota AgriculturalExperimental Station.

The storage of grain and. similar products subject to respiration,resulting in heating of the stored product, if not relieved by airing orcooling, may attain to destructive temperatures. Therefore, it is theuniversal practice in the storage of grain and other similar materialsto remove it from the bins for airing and cooling when it becomesnecessary to do so on account of heating. Insect propagation isaccelerated by temperature elevation under conditions of heating ofstored products. By airing and cooling the product, i. e., running thestored product over a conveyor system so as to expose all particles ofthe product to contact withthe surrounding air, depredations of theinsect with which the-material may be infested maybe arrested.

The handling of stored grain and other mate.- rlals in this manner,however, results in dockage losses, averaging approximately half ofone-percent for each-turning or handling, and in addition considerableexpense is involved in labor and or the operation of the machinery, etc.Moreover, the beneficial results of the turning of the grain is only ofa temporary character, especially with respect to the activities ofinsects, due

to the presence of which, as well as that of respiration, subsequent.tumings are generally required.

It is very well known that heating of the grain very ordinarily occursin the form of, hot spots", or localized heating, which may occur'at anypoint, zoneor level of the stored grain in. the bin, which spots mayspread with great rapidity if the heating action is not arrested. Priorto my invention no way had been found dissipating these hot spotswithout removal of the grain from the bins and the turning of the grainin the customary manner, and no method devised of effectively treatingstored grain at any location for the removal of heat or excess moistureliable to cause molding of the grain, or to. arrest insect activities,without extensive turning or handling operations of the kind referredto.

One object of my invention is to provide a method of and means fortreating grain in the bin whereby hot spots and excess moisture, staleair and foul gases may be easily and conveniently removed, and insectdepredations arrested, without the necessity of removing the grain fromthe bins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatuswhereby hot spots or other deleterious conditions at any point, zone orelevation in the stored grain in a bin may be treated, without thenecessity of disturbing o removing theentire body of grain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of andmeans for cooling the stored grain by the injection of air at adesired'low' temperature and withdrawing by suction warm and foul air andgases, whereby the grain may be kept in a cool condition and the depre..dations of insects and injuries due to other causes arrested andprevented.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of andmeans for aerating the grain for the removal of heat and excess moistureand foul air and gases, and to prevent insect depredations, whereby theentire body of air throughout a body of stored grain may be removed andreplaced with fresh air during a certain time period, so that a mode oftreatment for the preservation of the grain similar to that provided bynature may be employed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method andapparatus which avoids the expense of employing extra storage bins, asis necessary under the common practice of withdrawing the grain from thestorage bins for cooling and airing, thus reducing the expense forequipment, as well as reducing the cost of'handling and treatment andpreventing the weight or bulk losses in the grain due to attrition andto storing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of themethod and steps of the method and the novel means hereinafter morefully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, showing certain means for carrying the invention intopractical effect, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplificative type of apparatuswhich may be employed for carrying my invention into practical effect.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a pair of storage bins equippedwith aeration devices embodying the invention, showing the airconditioner and overhead air supply and exhaust connections of the upperset of operating devices but omitting the power plant and associatedparts of the lower set of operating devices, this view also showing atwo-pipe aeration system applied to one of the bins and a multipipeaeration system applied to the other bin.

Fig. 3 is a view of the power plant and associated parts of the lowerset of operating devices.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of a number of circular bins of abattery of bins arranged in accordance with an established practice towhich the invention is applied.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale through the upper endof the stand pipe and rotary distributor valve of the two-pipe system.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view through one of the distributorheads or casings of the twopipe system.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a similar view through the valve bear-.

ing and conductor casting and distributor casing at the lower end of thestand pipe.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom support.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the bottom support.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of one 'of the radial nozzle pipes and itssupports.

Figs. 13 and 14 are, respectively, an elevational view and a top planview of one of said supports.

Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, a vertical longitudinal section and avertical transverse section through a portion of a radial nozzle pipe ona line intersecting one of its nozzles, showing one form of nozzle andguard screen which may be employed.

Figs. -17 and 18 are views similar to Figs. 14 and 15 showing adifierent form of nozzle.

Fig. 19 is a view-on an enlarged scale of the air conditioner and partsof the upper set of operating devices.

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of one of the distributor heads orcasings of the multi-pipe system.

Figs. 21 and 22 are sections on the lines 2 l2|' and 22-22 of Fig. 20.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A represents a portionof a battery of cylindrical bins arranged in transversely alined pairsin accordance with a common practice in a grain elevator, the bins B andB of each pair being shown in the present instance, for purpose ofexemplification, as respectively provided with a two-pipe and amultiple-pipe system of 5 aeration pipes, although it is to beunderstood that all bins of a battery or all bins of an elevator may be.equipped exclusively with either system or that both systems may be usedin any arrangement desired, as may be deemed advisable 10 or mostsuitable in any particular installation.

I will first describe the invention in connection with the two-pipesystem employed in bins B, followed by a description of the invention inconnection with the multi-pipe system employed in 15 bins B.

Disposed concentrically and axially within each .bin B are two pipes land 2, the outer pipe I comprising a stand pipe forming a housing forthe inner pipe 2, which forms a fluid conductor and 20 rotary valvemember. The pipe I is composed of any suitable number of pipe sectionswhich are spaced apart at their adjacent ends and are connected witheach other and to the walls of the bin B by radially combineddistributor and 25 suction heads 3 arranged at different elevations ordifierent horizontal zone levels substantially throughout the fulllength or depth of the bin. Each of these distributor and suction headsconsists of a casing Q formed of top and bottom members or sections 5and 6 in threaded connection with the ends of the adjacent pipe sectionsand an interposed cast valve bodyor diaphragm 1, united to the saidcasing sections 5 and 6 by tap bolts .8 passing through flanges 9 on thecasing sections and entering threaded sockets in the valve body.Thevalve body separates the casing sections, and consequently the pipesections connected thereby, from communication with each other, but isprovided with a central bore or passage ill through which the valve pipe2 extends.

In the valve body is formed an annular conductor channel II with whichisconnected the bore [0 by a radial passage H, which cooperates with aport H2 in the valve pipe 2, and from said channel extend outwardlyradial passages l3 opening at the sides of the valve body throughflanged nipples H. To the flanged nipples M are connected the innerflanged ends 16' of radial conductor pipes l5 having their outer endssupported in brackets lBa fastened to opposite sides of the walls of thebin B. Each pipe is provided at its underside with a longitudlnalseriesof nozzles I! connecting the annular channel of the valve body with theinterior of the bin through the pipes l5 and their nozzles IT. The pipesl5 thus lie at different levels within the grain stored in the bin andafford a means whereby when the port I2 in the valve pipe 2 is inregister with the passage ll, air or other fluid under desired pres- 0sure may be forced into the bin and through the rain at each level andwhereby air or gases may be withdrawn by suction from the intersticesbetween the grain and discharged into the outer atmosphere. The nozzlesIT, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, may consist of small cylindrical tubesl8 enclosed by guard screens I!) to prevent clogging of the nozzle tubesby the grain or chaff or foreign materials in the grain, or in lieuthereof, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, nozzle tubes 18' having closedouter ends la and provided with inclined ducts IS in its sides may beemployed, such ducts serving as fluid conductors and by their inclinedarrangement having a screen effact to prevent clogging thereof by grain,etc.

1 2,027,268 The valve-body 1 is provided with stuffing boxes 20 torevent leakage through bore l and-passage The upper and lower sectionsof the pipe I are connected to casings 2| and 22 through which the,adjacent ends of the'valve pipe 2 extend.

' The casing 2| consists of a body having upper jecting end of the pipe2 is provided with a hand wheel 21 whereby it may be turned or rotatedin pipe I. The upper flanged end oi! the casing 2| is closed by a cover28 which supports an indicator or 'pointer 28, while the lower flangedend of the casing 2| is connected to a flanged.

coupling 30 threaded to the upper section oi. pipe I, and adjustablepacking rings 3| are provided in the chambers 23 to compress the packingmaterial therein. The casing 22 may be similar-in construction to one ofthe casings 4 except as to the omission of the bottom section 8 and thebolting of the valve body thereof directly to the upper flanged end ofaconducting and bearing casting 32 having a bearing chamber 33 in whichis a ball-bearing 34 supporting the lower end of the valve pipe 2, andalso having a flanged arm or connection 35 coupled to the T-connectionof casing 22. The arm 35 is provided with a passage 38 which extendsthrough the flanged bottom of the casting 32, which is fastened to thecentral body portion of an armed distributing and suction. head 31having hollow radial arms 38 provided with flanged outer ends 38attached to the walls of the conical outlet 40 of the bin, whichdischarges onto theconveyor 40a. These arms 38, like the pipes l5, areprovided with rows of bottom jet orifices or discharge nozzles 4| forfluid discharge or suction actions when the associated port l4 of thevalve pipe 2 is in register with theT-connection of casing 22,

the element 31-thus serving both as a base sup-; port for the stand andvalve pipes and as a bottom distributor and suction. nozzle. The valveport 28in the upper end of the valve pipe 2 is in constant communicationwith the T-shaped ini let 25 of the casing 2|, while the other ports |2in said valve pipe-associated with the casings 4 and 22 are all closedagainst communication with said casings in the normal position of thevalve pipe and are so circumferentially spaced about the valve pipe, e.g., 40 circumferential degrees apart, that any certain distributor andsuction head may be connected with the valve pipe to the exclusion ofthe others. In order to enable the pipe 2 to be rotated by means of thehand wheel 21 with certainty to the proper positions, the wheel 21 isprovided with suitable gage marks or graduations for coaction with .thepointer 28.

Mechanism is provided whereby compressed air, cooled or both cooled andotherwise conditioned, may be selectively supplied to the distributorand suction heads and expanded into the storage bin, or whereby airand/or other gases may be drawn by suction from the bin, and alsowhereby insecticide vapors or gases may be supplied for chemicaltreatment of the grain as occasion may require. The compressed airsupply part of. this mechanism comprises an air compressor 42, anintercooler 43 of the type commonly used with a 2-stage air compressor,a water cooled aftercooler '44' in communication with the intercoolerthrough a pipe 45 containing an oil separator 48,

a receiver 41 for the compressed air from the pump in communicationthrough a relief-valved pipe 48 with the aitercooler, an atmosphericaftercooler 48 having. a by-pass connection with 5 a supply pipe 88leading from the receiver" by means of inlet and discharge connections50' and. 50a and a system of valves 5|, 52 and 53,'an oil and waterseparator 540! approved type connected to the pipe 58 for relieving theair of any 10 oil or'water entrained therewith and in which may beplaced suitable fllter' material for the purpose of eliminating orabsorbing oil vapors or fumes which might otherwise be carried throughthe compressed air lines and delivered into the 1;, grain wherebytainting of the grain with oil or oil odors will be prevented, an aircooler and drier 55 having a by-pass connection with an air supply pipe58 leading from the separator 54 through inlet and discharge connections51 and 58 and a system oi. valves 58, 88 and 8|, said cooler and drier55 including a refrigerating coil arranged in an anhydrous-ammonia orother refrigerating system, and an air' delivery pipe 82 leadingtherefrom. Thesuction or exhaust part of this mechanism comprises avacuum pump 83 having a discharge pipe 84, and connected by a .pipe 85with the air delivery outlet 91 a dust-collector 88 whereby all dust,chaff and other solid particles entrained with the, withdrawn air areremoved from the air, the inlet of said dust oollector being connectedwith a suction pipe 81. Pipes 88 and 88 couple the pipes 82. and 81 witha connection 18 attached to the T-connection of the casing 2| and insaid pipes are controlling and cutoff valves 1| and.12: The connection10 has a valved inlet 13 whereby a'chemical tumi gant or insecticide maybe introduced for injection with the compressed air into the bin fortreatment of the stored grainthereby, when such treatment of the grainis deemed desirable, or for sterilizing the bin preparatory to storageof the grain therein.- Communicating with the top of each bin is a feedchute: or spout 14 through which the grain is introduced from a beltunloader 15. or other transfer or transportmeans. The head of this chuteor spouthas a suitably closed lateral inlet 14' for'entranoeof the grainand is connected above the same with a box or chamber 18 from whichleadsa ventpipe 11 to the outer atmosphere. A valve 14a is provided inthe head of chute 14 to cut oficommunication between the same and saidlateral inlet 14' when i the latter isin use. From'the'box or chamber 18also leads a conductor 18 connecting the same with an air supply pipe18, to which the, conductors from all the bins B and B of any certainnumber of bins may be connected, and which pipe 18 leads from an airconditioner 88. The

box or chamber 18 containsa valve 8| which is movable to open and closecommunication between the conductor 18 and the spout and is also movableto open and close communication between thespout and the vent pipe 11.In practice the'valve may be coupled'to the grain inlet :5 door of thespout head so that when the door is open the spout head is vented to theatmosphere. The air conditioner 88 may be one of a typein common use forair conditioning railway passenger cars and such as shown in patents or7 patent applications of my own for apparatus for air conditioningrailway cars, such conditioner having a suction and discharge fanfortdrawing air thereinto through an inlet 88', together with suitablemeans, automatically governed by a hy- 5 grostat for humidity and athermostat for temperature, for conditioning the air prior to itsdischarge through the pipe 19 as to temperature and humidity.

The method of operation in employing the twopipe system is as follows:

As stated, the method employed by me is one whereby grain in storage maybe properly aerated without withdrawal from the storage bins for coolingand airing, thereby saving the losses and expenses of removal from thebins and thus increasing the capacity of a given plant by eliminatingthe necessity for extra storage bins needed where the grain has to befrequently turned. This method is patterned as closely as possible fromnatures own method of grain preservation, and the method is adaptablefor the storage of grain which has been treated electrically orchemically for elimination of parasites as well, as untreated grain.

In practice, grain storage plants are usually provided with electricalindicating systems, including thermocouples or the like, arranged atdifierent elevations and points within the individual grain bins,whereby when a,hot spot" forms, or the temperature unduly rises at anypoint, zone or portion of the grain in a bin, an indication of the hotspot and its point of location will be given. These hot spots maydevelop with great rapidity and favor the rapid propagation anddistribution of insects unless eliminated, and the only method ofeliminating them heretofore has been by the expensive practice ofremoving and running all of the grain from the bin. Similarly, wheresweating of the grain, and liability of the same becoming moldy andirreparably In removing hot spots or reducing the temper-.

ature of the grain in accordance with my method, the grain may betreated for the removal of one or a number of hot spots, by forcingcompressed air into the grain through the properly located airdistributing and suction heads. This air will be discharged or jettedwith force from the nozzles and will expand as it issues into the grain.Compressed air so expanded from a higher to a lower pressure will absorbheat units. Consequently it will dissipate the hot spot in the grain.Its discharge in the grain at this congested point will also stir up andloosen the grain in the zone of discharge of the streams of air and thusrelease the stale hot air trapped within the intertices oi the grain inthis zone. The excess air discharged into the grain in this manner maybe allowed to escape through the open vent pipe 11, whereby the staleair will be carried oif with entrained impurities, thus avoiding anyappreciable accumulation of pressure above atmospheric pressure.

the same result can be gained by passing the compressed air through theair cooler and drier 55, in which it will pass over refrigerantexpansion coils, whereby it will be cooled and dried or deprived of alarge part of its moisture. Thus during winter and summer coolcompressed air about 50 F. or less. After elimination of a hot spot atany point, the system may be employed for gently and slowly, or with anydegree of 10 rapidity desired, withdraw the stale musty air by suctionfrom the hot spot. This will be accomplished by disconnecting the properair distributor and suction head from the compressed air supply pipe 62and connecting the same with 15 the suction pipe 6?, by means of whichthe stale air and impurities will be exhausted. Grain under pressure, asin a bin, will not flow upward, but under the influence of vacuum of acertain degree, the lighter particles of chaff, etc., will be 20 floatedon the column of air moving under the influence of the vacuum. Theseparticles will be carried off from the bin but arrested and removed inthe dust collector 66. Should any clogging at any time occur in any ofthe distributor 25 and suction heads the application of compressed airwill immediately relieve such clogged condition.

After dissipation of the hot spot and the evacuation of the stale air inthat zone, which may 30 be accomplished in the manner described withgreatrapidity and at low cost, fresh air maybe injected to take theplace of the withdrawn stale air, after which the valve pipe may beturned to open communication between the bottom dis- 35 tributor andsuction head and the vacuum system, and to close communication betweenthe valve pipe and the other distributor and suction heads, whereby amoderate vacuum pull may be instituted within the bottom head 31,whereby 40 any stale air and carbon dioxide or other gases which mayhave settled to the bottom of the bin, may be gradually removed underthe influence of the vacuum. For each cubic foot of air and/or carbondioxide removed, an equal amount of air 45,

conditioned as to humidity, also temperature if required, will besupplied from the air condi-" tioner and introduced through the spout Mat the top of the bin. In this action outside air will be taken in at80' and passed through the 5( air conditioner 80, the. operation ofwhich is governed by a hygrostat for humidity and a thermostat fortemperature control, and the conditioned air will be delivered throughconduit 19, pipe 18, box 15 and spout i4, tothe bin, the valve 8| in 55this operation being closed to cut oil communication between the ventpipe 11 and the spout. In this manner foul air and gases settling at thebottom of the bin may be removed and its place taken by freshconditioned air supplied at the 60 top of the bin,.so that theatmosphere of the bin may be changed within any given period of timefollowing elimination of hot spots and other objectionable conditions,so that a wholesome atmosphere may be established and maintained in 65the bin. At any time when it may be deemed desirable chemical coolingagents, such as carbon dioxide or fumigants or insecticides may beintroduced and distributed in a most effective manner throughout thegrain for the treatment 70 the air or external atmospheric conditions. 7I

It is well known by all familiar with the storage of grain, especiallywhen it is stored during warm weather, that the grain is liable to sweatat a later period when the temperature of the outside air becomes low.If this condition is allowed to remain, the grain is liable to mold andto otherwise become damaged or spoiled. By means of my method oftreatment this objectionable condition of the grain may be whollyovercome, for the reason that as the air is evacuated from the binspartly or fully filled with grain the moisture in the grain will underthe influence oi the lower pressure evaporate, and the excess moisturewill be carried oil! with the evacuated air.

The air conditioner 80 may be of atype which is chilled by a waterspray, and the water supand cooler 55, which is provided withrefrigerant expansion coils.

The method of treatment and the, operation of the two pipe system abovedescribed. may be carried out in exactly the same way by the use of themultiple-pipe system, except that in the case of the multiple-pipesystem, the valves controlling the air ieed pipes will be manipulated tosecure the desired results, instead of a control action effected byadjustment of the valve pipe of the two-pipe system, as will be readilyunderstood.

The arrangement of the air distributor and suction heads and the standpipe in the multiple-pipe system employed in each bin B is substantiallythe same as that disclosed with reference to the two-pipe systememployed in each bin B, but in place of the valve pipe 2 a series of airfeed and suction pipes Za-Ii, inclusive, equal in number to thedistributor and suction heads are employed, the central pipe 2a of theseries extending to and communicating with the bottom head 31 and eachpipe communicating at its lower end through a passage II" with a channelI la from which radiate ports or passages I3a connected with theconductor pipes [5. Each of these pipes 20-22 extends at its upper endabove the bin 3' and is coupledby a U- connection 82, in the arms ofwhich are cut-out and control valves 83 and 84, with pipes 85 and 86connecting with the air feed and suction pipes 62 and 61, respectively,in which pipes '85 and 86 are cut-out and control valves 85' and 86'. Avalved connection 81 is provided between the pipe 85 and 83 whereby acarbon dioxide or other suitable chemical cooling agents, fumigants orinsecticides may be introduced for injection with the air into the grainfor cooling or chemically treating the grain to purify the contained airor destroy insect life or to sterilize the bin prior to the storage ofthe grain. For simplicity of illustration I have shown theabove-described elements 82-81 in connection with only one of the airfeed and supply pipes, but it is to be understood that each air feed andsuction pipe will be provided with valve pipe connections of the typedescribed and coupled to the air supply and suction pipes 62 and 61 andthe air conditioner, so that the pipes 241, etc., may be independentlyor simultaneously employed for injecting air into or withdrawing airfrom the binat any certain level or two or. more different levelssimultaneously.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,my. method of and apparatus for treating grain in storage for thepurposes described will be readily understood by those versed in the artwithout a further and extended description, and it will be seen thatgrain stored in elevator bins or other storage receptacles may beeconomically treated and maintained in better condition than heretoforewithout the'losses and expenses attendant upon the use of prior methods;Also it will be seen that my invention provides a simple, reliable andeffective means for carrying the method into practical efiect. While theuse of the steps of the method as set forth and structuralmeans'employed is preferred, it is to be understood that variations insuch steps and their sequence and changes in the form, construction andarrange-, ment of parts of the apparatus may be made as desired andfound most desirable 'within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit. or sacrificing anyoi the advantages of theinvention,

This case is filed as a division of-my application filed January 12,1933, Serial No. 651,434.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for storing and aerating grain, a grain storage bin,fluid conductors disposed at different levels in the bin and each havinga plurality of radially arranged nozzles, a

stand pipe connecting said conductors, a fluid conductor incommunication with the upper end of the stand pipe, and a pipe arrangedwithin the stand pipe concentrically therewith and provided with portsfor communication with the fluid conductors within the bin, said pipebeing rotatable for selectively connecting any of said ply nozzlesconnected with the stand pipe and disposed horizontally at differentlevels in the receptacle, a device for supplying fluid under pressure,and means in said standpipe forse-' lectively andindependentlyconnecting any of said nozzles with said fluid supply device.

3. In a grain storing and preserving apparatus, the combination of astorage receptacle, a

pipe in the receptacle, radial air pressure supstand pipe in thereceptacle, radial, fluid pressure supply and suction nozzles connectedwith the stand pipe and disposed horizontally at different levels in thereceptacle, 9. device for supplying a treatment fluid under pressure, avacuumizing device, and means in said receptacle for selectively andindependently connecting any of said nozzles with the fluid supplydevice or the vacuumizing device.

4. In a grain storing and preserving apparatus, the combination of astorage receptacle, a stand pipe in the receptacle, radial fluidpressure supply nozzles connected with the stand pipe .and disposedhorizontally at different levels in the receptacle, a fluid pressuresupply device, and a controlling valve device arranged coaxially withinthe stand pipe and rotatable therein for selectively connecting any ofsaid nozzles with said fluid pressure supply device. t

5. In a grain storing and preserving apparatus, the combinationof astorage receptacle, a stand suction' nozzles connected with the standpipe and disposed horizontally in the receptacle at different levels, afluid pressure supply device, a vacuumizing device, and a valve devicearranged axially within the stand pipe and rotatable for selectively andindependently connecting any of 6 aoa'aaee the combination of a storagereceptacle, a stand pipe in the receptacle, fluid pressure supply andsuction nozzles connected with the stand pipe and disposed horizontallyat difierent levels in the receptacle, a. fluid pressure supply device,a

vacuumizing device, and valved conducting pipes arranged within thestand pipe and connected With/the respective nozzles, whereby any ofsaid nozzles may be separately and independently connected with eitherthe fluid pressure supply device or the vacuumizing device.

7. In an apparatus for storing and aerating grain, a grain storage bin,a stand pipe arranged within the bin, suction and discharge nozzlesarranged within the bin at difierent elevations and connected to thestand pipe, air supply and vacuumizing devices, and a control valvemounted within the stand pipe and operable from the exterior of the binfor selectively and independently connecting any of the nozzles witheither the air supply device or the vacuumizing device.

8. In an apparatus for storing and aerating grain, a grain storage bin,a stand pipe arranged within the bin, suction and discharge nozzlesarranged rigidly withinthe bin at different levels and connected to thestand pipe, air supplying and vacuumizing devices, and a valve devicedisposed within the stand pipe and common to and controllingcommunication between all the suction and discharge nozzles and the saidair supplying and vacuumizing devices, said valve device beingadjustable from the exterior of said pipe for selectively andindependently connecting any of the nozzles with either the airsupplying device or the vacuumizing device.

- -9. In grain storing and preserving apparatus,

the combination of a storage receptacle, a stand pipe in the receptacle,a plurality of annular series of radial air pressure supply andvacuumizing nozzles connected with the stand pipe and disposed atdifferent levels in the'receptacle, a device for supplying 'fluid underpressure, a vacuumizing device, and a valve device rotatable in thestand pipe for selectively and independent ly connecting any of saidseries of nozzles with either the said fluid pressure supply device orthe said vacuumizing device.

, 10. In an apparatus for storing and aerating grain, a grain storagebin, compressed air supply and suction devices disposed at differentlevels in the bin and each having a plurality of radially arrangednozzles, a'stand pipe, air supplyingand suction units in valvedcommunication with the stand pipe, and a pipe arranged within the'standpipe concentrically therewith and provided with ports for communicationwith the suction and discharge devices, said pipe being rotatable forselectively connecting any of said suction and discharge devices withthe air supplying and suction units.

JESSE H. DAVIS.

